Coffin



sTATEs PATENT OFFTO DANIEL HOOKER AND SOLOMON E. HOOKER, OF VEST POULTNEY, VERMONT.

COFFIN.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, DANmL HOOKER and SOLOMON E. HOOKER, of Vest Poultney, in the county of Rutland and State of Vermont, have invented a new and Improved Ooiiin; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, Figure 1 being a view in perspective of our improved coffin, a portion of one side being broken away to show the interior construction; Fig. 2, a transverse section thereof; Fig. 3, a view in perspective of the skeleton frame to which the slabs composing the case are secured; Figs. 4 and 5, views indicating slight modification of the manner ofconstructing the frame.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the gures.

The object of our invention is to construct cotfns of thin slabs of slate, so that they may be strong and durable, and at the same time comparatively light.

We construct a light frame A, of sheetmetal strips, bent at right-angles or nearly so, in the manner represented in the drawings; the wings a, a, thereof being of sufficient width to receive screws passing through the edges of the slabs, which are joined over the said strips. There is one of these strips extending along at each angular oint of the coftin; and they are all united by rivets, or otherwise, so as to compose a frame or skeleton of the desired form, substantially as shown in Fig. 3. At suitable distances apart, holes b, are perforated in the wings of these frame strips, and threaded for the reception of screws d, d, which are passed from the outside, in through corresponding holes in the slabs B, B, and thus securely confine the slabs to Specification of Letters Patent No. 19,503, dated March 2, 1858.

the frame. Or the screws, or bolts, may simply pass through the' holes b, b, and be secured by nuts or heads beneath.

Instead of making the strips composing the frame, angular in their whole extent, as indicated in Fig. 4, the right-angled flanches may be dispensed with, for a considerable portion of their extent, thus leaving portions like ears, as indicated at a, a, Fig. 5, for receiving the fastening screws.

The joints may be made tight by cement, or other suitable substance.

The material of the frame may be wood, slate, or any other suitable material as well as metal. The slate being readily cleft into slabs B, B, as thin as desirable, and being very strong and easily wrought, and withal of beautiful appearance, and susceptible of a fine finish, when united as above described, becomes a very excellent material of which to construct cofns. Its cheapness also highly recommends it.

What we claim as ourinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The employment of a skeleton frame composed of strips of angular metal extending along the angles of the coffin and iirmly secured together, so as to furnish the main support of the coiiin, and at the same time, a proper means of attaching the slabs of stone, and of securing tight joints, as specified. i

2. We also claim the combination of this frame with thin slabs of slate or other stone, whereby a cotlin of superior strength, durability and lightness is produced.

DANIEL HOOKER. SOLOMON E. HOOKER.

vWitnesses:

J. JosLiN, WILLIAM WHEELEN. 

